[BMWUltimateDriv3r]

Are they full of shit?

[Dark_Knight_335]

Sure the DEALER BMW fluid is blue- but it doesn't HAVE to be blue

[AceOnShake]

You're better off getting the BMW coolant which is blue anyways. I would ask him to flush it off but I'm not sure how it works with the electric water pump to actually do a proper flush.

Fluid is lifetime anyways lol just reuse your old fluid ( Its a joke )

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

BMW coolant is ethylene glycol-based and is nitrate & phosphate free. As long as you obtain coolant that has those specifications, it's fine.

The 1991 SIB 17 01 88 (1743) [NEW BMW ANTIFREEZE] states that only a non-phosphate, non-nitrate HOAT antifreeze should be used. Per BMW's internal service bulletins, you should not be using anything else. As far as I know, there are three coolants that fulfill this requirement:

1. Zerex G-05
2. BMW Blue
3. Volvo Blue

All are equivalent in price. I would just get two bottles of BMW Blue concentrate. You can get about 10 liters of 50/50 coolant for $40 out of it - enough for a full cooling system refill, and extra for topoffs.

[Don N.]

No, it does not have to be blue. I use Zerex G-05 and that is what the BMW independent shop next to me uses for all of the cars as well.

-Don

[JeM9]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

BMW coolant is ethylene glycol-based and is nitrate & phosphate free. As long as you obtain coolant that has those specifications, it's fine.

The 1991 SIB 17 01 88 (1743) [NEW BMW ANTIFREEZE] states that only a non-phosphate, non-nitrate HOAT antifreeze should be used. Per BMW's internal service bulletins, you should not be using anything else. As far as I know, there are three coolants that fulfill this requirement:

1. Zerex G-05
2. BMW Blue
3. Volvo Blue

All are equivalent in price. I would just get two bottles of BMW Blue concentrate. You can get about 10 liters of 50/50 coolant for $40 out of it - enough for a full cooling system refill, and extra for topoffs.

This is good to know, thanks

[BashShah]

The cost of BMW fluid or other of the shelf is about the same.

So why risk it with other than BMW fluid.
Just remember to mix it 50/50 with Distilled water.

DN

[adiba14]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

The cost of BMW fluid or other of the shelf is about the same.

So why risk it with other than BMW fluid.
Just remember to mix it 50/50 with Distilled water.

DN

Just curious...why distilled water?

[idrift4wd]

Originally Posted by adiba14

Just curious...why distilled water?

Less contaminantes in the water.

[e90coast]

Im blue

[thomas88162]

Truthfully it does not matter what you put in your cooling system as long as you maintain it. BMW blue is great. However any supermarket all makes coolant is ethylene glycol based as well, and does just as good of a job at both protecting and cooling.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Welcome to NBA Jam

BMW coolant is ethylene glycol-based and is nitrate & phosphate free. As long as you obtain coolant that has those specifications, it's fine.

The 1991 SIB 17 01 88 (1743) [NEW BMW ANTIFREEZE] states that only a non-phosphate, non-nitrate HOAT antifreeze should be used. Per BMW's internal service bulletins, you should not be using anything else. As far as I know, there are three coolants that fulfill this requirement:

1. Zerex G-05
2. BMW Blue
3. Volvo Blue

Here's a more exhaustive list. The key is the G48 specification of low phosphate, low silicate.
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...1#post20450281

[David3]

I agree, most modern coolants (phosphate free) are safe for aluminum and thus safe for use in a BMW engine. I, however, use a blue coolant simply because I want it blue. I use Pentosin PentoFrost NF coolant that is available from one of my local auto parts supply stores.

PentoFrost NF has silicates and is the type recommended for all BMW engines. PentoFrost SF is silicate free and not necessarily recommended for BMW's (but maybe ok). PentoFrost coolants are Lifetime coolants and blue in color. I imagine Pentosin is the OEM for BMW.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by adiba14

Just curious...why distilled water?

Because some people home water source is load with minerals which are not good for cooling systems. Distill water is just cleaner to use and less likely to run into issues later down the road.

My current understand about the fluid colors is all the major fluid should be different color so when you are racing and you have a leak they can quickly tell what the source of the leak is. So I have been told and BMW is just following this reason on the their cars.

[Miller335]

Originally Posted by e90coast

Im blue

Blue like my corvette, thats sitting outside.

[BashShah]

Originally Posted by idrift4wd

Less contaminantes in the water.

1+
In a perfect world.
It would be Distilled or de-ionized water.

But speaking to a few professionals all stated, tap water is fine.

I choose Distilled water cause it is extremely cheap.
$3 for 4 liters..... And that is not a sale price.

So I paid $18 for BMW fluid.
And 3 for Distilled water.

That is still close to other coolants prices.... Why even think about non-recommend coolants for a peace of mind.

DN

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

1+
In a perfect world.
It would be Distilled or de-ionized water.

But speaking to a few professionals all stated, tap water is fine.

I choose Distilled water cause it is extremely cheap.
$3 for 4 liters..... And that is not a sale price.

So I paid $18 for BMW fluid.
And 3 for Distilled water.

That is still close to other coolants prices.... Why even think about non-recommend coolants for a peace of mind.

DN

never De-ionize water, water with our ions in from metals and such is like an acid to a metal, You do not want to de-ionize water in your cooling system.

You right most tap water is just fine, as long as you do not have hardware or water with lots of organics in which lots of places do have. Distill is a safe bet if you do not know what your water is like.

[chepy24]

my coolant from bmw was a greenish..hmmmmmm

[SSW]

Just had my coolant flushed when the water pump/thermostat were replaced.

Got charged $35/gallon for BMW coolant, which I thought was too much but didn't bother arguing about it because they're a independent shop and I like the work the mechanic does there. My way of supporting SMALL business. Wanted some coolant on hand to top off. So, I just bought a bottle of BMW coolant from a dealer for $22.48 (a 10% discount); normal price at this dealer, $24.50. Still too much!

Zerex G-05 apparently retails for around $10-15, which is better. If I had read this thread, this is what I would have bought.

[alexwhittemore]

Originally Posted by Maestro

never De-ionize water, water with our ions in from metals and such is like an acid to a metal, You do not want to de-ionize water in your cooling system.

You right most tap water is just fine, as long as you do not have hardware or water with lots of organics in which lots of places do have. Distill is a safe bet if you do not know what your water is like.

Whatever you just said isn't grammatically, much less scientifically correct.

Deionization and distillation are effectively interchangeable terms. Both serve to purify water and remove mineral content, most notably sodium. Deionization, as such, doesn't remove certain uncharged contaminants.

In any event, either/or is much better to use than regular tap water, but regular tap water should be fine in an engine (unless you live here in LA where it's harder than cement).

[Miller335]

At the local grocer it's $1 for a gallon of distilled water, no reason to not use distilled water unless a person lacks the ability to plan that for ahead.

[The Cleaner]

The reason why you want to use the Blue variant is so there is no question whats in the car. Green/Purple and Red coolant "can" be different blends than BMW recommends.